Giant Cutgrass

Scientific Name: Zizaniopsis miliacea (Michx.) Döll & Asch.


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Liliopsida / Commelinidae / Cyperales / Poaceae / Gramineae / Zizaniopsis Döll & Asch./ Zizaniopsis miliacea (Michx.) Döll & Asch.

Giant Cutgrass
General Information
Usda SymbolZIMI
GroupMonocot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsGraminoid
Native LocationsZIMI

Plant Guide

Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where Giant Cutgrass is planted.

Fact Sheet

Alternate Names

southern wild grass, water millet , Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Giant Cutgrass.

Uses

Cattle readily graze giant cutgrass from late winter through summer. If grazed in the dormant season, a mineral supplement should be provided. This grass is also used for erosion control around lakes and on stream banks. Geese and ducks forage on its green basal leaves.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

Description

Grass Family (Poaceae). Giant cutgrass is a warm-season, rhizomatous perennial grass. The height is between 3 to 9 feet. The leaf blade is long and flat, rough on edges, almost sawlike. The leaf sheath is rounded and opens with shorter than internodes. The seedhead is narrow and nodding panicles, spikelets unisexual, 1-flowered, male and female on same branch of panicle.

Management

For maximum production, no more than 50 percent of current growth by weight should be removed at any season. Controlled burning is recommended if enough dead leaves and stems accumulate on the ground to smother new growth. Burn only when there is at least 1 inch of water above soil surface. Defer grazing after burning to permit 8 inches of re-growth. Cattle walkways are essential to distribute grazing and provide access to forage on fresh marshes where this grass is important.

Establishment

Although a warm-season grass, giant cutgrass grows some in late fall along the gulf coast. It produces seed mostly in spring and early summer. It grows in dense bunches from large, creeping rhizomes. Mature plants turn yellowish after first frost, but usually have green basal leaves all year. It grows primarily on firm mineral clays or silt soils. Also, it grows in fresh-water marshes and swamps, on creek and riverbanks, and in drainage ditches and canals. It tolerates a small amount of salt in free soil water. It does best if the water level fluctuates from soil surface to 12 inches above. Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Please contact your local NRCS Field Office.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Temperature, Minimum (°F)12
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Anaerobic ToleranceHigh
CaCO3 ToleranceMedium
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Drought ToleranceNone
Fertility RequirementMedium
Fire ToleranceMedium
Frost Free Days, Minimum120
Hedge ToleranceNone
Moisture UseHigh
pH, Maximum9.0
pH, Minimum4.3
Precipitation, Maximum70
Precipitation, Minimum35
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)16
Salinity ToleranceLow
Shade ToleranceIntolerant


Morphology/Physiology

After Harvest Regrowth RateRapid
ToxicityNone
Shape and OrientationErect
Nitrogen FixationNone
Resprout AbilityNo
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
BloatNone
C:N RatioMedium
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousYes
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorYellow
Flower ConspicuousNo
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage TextureCoarse
Low Growing GrassYes
LifespanModerate
Leaf RetentionNo
Known AllelopathNo
Height, Mature (feet)9.0
Growth RateRapid
Growth FormRhizomatous
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Fruit/Seed ColorYellow
Foliage Porosity WinterModerate


Reproduction

Vegetative Spread RateModerate
Small GrainNo
Seedling VigorHigh
Seed Spread RateModerate
Fruit/Seed Period EndWinter
Seed per Pound210000
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Fruit/Seed Period BeginFall
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Bloom PeriodLate Summer
Propagated by CuttingsNo


Suitability/Use

Veneer ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Nursery Stock ProductYes
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo

Giant Cutgrass

Giant Cutgrass

Giant Cutgrass

Giant Cutgrass

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